The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-09-03
JOURNALISM IN 1914.
How the News OF startling Dissstc,
was Brought Exclusively 70 "Tm
baltimore sum-


was Brought Exclusively 70 "Th
baltimore SUM-"
In connection with the removal Of the Wash
ington office Of The baltimore Sm from Its ole
quarters to the magnificent cdillcc which thu
proprietor of The Sun has erected at thu
capital, Pay-Dircctor Cunningham, U. s. N.
said:
"The great and long-contlnued SUGGEST
which has enabled The Sun to put up such
building as that, as an outside Investment
can be traced back to two journalistic triumph
the first Of them being the earliest publica'
ton, outside Of Washington, of the news OF
the great disaster on the frigate Princeton
Feb. %, 1874, when two members OF Iyleri
cabinet (Upshur and Gilmer) and four Others
were killed by the bursting OF Capt stocktoni
big gun, the 'Peacemaksr' But Judge Law
renson, Of the postoflicc department, who &C
complished the victory for The Sun, must tel
the story"
Accordingly, Judge Lawrenson did tell 1t,
and the enterprise of that day-undcr diilicul
ties long unknown to the service OF specia
correspondents-is in striking contrast will
the feats of our more modern journalism.
Lawrenson heard promptly of the disaster
on the Princeton, and being the Washington
correspondent Of The Baltimore Sun, he wal
ambitious to send the news exclusively to thai
paper. The electric telegraph was then only
being talked of as a visionary scheme, and
railroads at that day we're few and far be
tween. The distressing story from the
Potomac had come too late for the last regular
train to Baltimore; but the correspondent
knew that special would leave at IL o'clock,
carrying messenger OF the British minister
with his official dispatches on the then
exciting question of our northern boundaries
To utilize that train was the birth OF thought
which has since harnessed locomotives and
lightning in the newspaper service. A Balti
more man was soon found for whom passage
on the train was easily procured, and les'
rival reporters should catch on this man wal
sworn to secrecy with oil the solemnlty which
Lawrcnson, who was justice OF the peace,
could command. Then the correspondent
gave his messenger the Hateful packet and told
him when he reached Baltimore (about
o'clock A. NJ. y he should go at once to GER
tain side enterance to The Sun Office, pass
along narrow passageway, and when he
came to window Of the composing room he
should break a glass to attract attentions
otherwise his alarm at the door would not be
needed at that hour.
'Then,n said Lawrcnson, "the foreman will
think you are some fellow coming around
drunk, and he will rush out and collar you.
But never mind. Give him this and tell him
It is from Lawrenson."
The man accepted his instructions, and be-
ing asked what he would charge for the SER
vice said he supposed It would be worth "a
dollar or two" The correspondent, however
gave him an order Oh the Office for s5, and
the man departed on the British minister's
special train. The correspondents OF other
Baltimore and northern papers put their let
tiers In the Washington postofiice, to 60 out
by the early morning mail, and went to bed
with consciousness Of duty done.
The messenger sent by Lawrcnson carried
out his instructions to the letter, and the
foreman duly received the all-important copy;
but MIR. Abel the proprietor and editor, had
to be sent for before the news could go into
the paper. Mr.. Abel promptly came and took
out an editorial he had written, putting In
Its place-with heavy black lines--the ac'
count of the "Awful Calamity" and claimed
It as coming "by extraordinary express ex
slusIvely for The baltimore SunP' The for
tunate messenger was paid S25 GU he spot
and the enterprsing correspondent has never
been forgotten. Lawrenson has not lacked
influence to retain his place in the postoflice
department fS now these more than forty
years.
In recalling this incident Lawerson went or
to say that he visited the white house at
o'clock in the morning after the disaster on thu
Princeton, and recalls seeing the six bodies,
side by side, in the east room; and he saw
President Tyler come downstairs with Mis-;
Julia Gardiner, whom he subsequently mar
ricd and take her to the east room to SCI
the body of her dead father.